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Woodridge's Property Crime Trends: A Decade of Fluctuations and Overall Decline
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Woodridge, located in Illinois, presents an intriguing case study in property crime trends. From 2010 to 2020, the city experienced fluctuations in total property crimes, with a notable decrease from 429 incidents in 2010 to 301 in 2019, representing a 29.8% reduction. Concurrently, the population grew modestly from 44,427 in 2010 to 45,241 in 2020, a 1.8% increase, suggesting that crime rates decreased even as the population expanded.
Burglary trends in the city have shown significant variability over the years. In 2010, there were 42 burglaries, which rose to 84 in 2017, an increase of 100%. However, by 2020, burglaries had decreased to 31, a 63.1% reduction from the 2017 peak. When considering population trends, the burglary rate per 1,000 residents fluctuated from 0.95 in 2010 to 1.87 in 2017, before dropping to 0.69 in 2020. The city's share of state burglaries also varied, from 0.08% in 2010 to a high of 0.32% in 2019, before settling at 0.15% in 2020. These fluctuations suggest that while burglary remains a concern, recent years have seen improvements in prevention or enforcement.
Larceny-theft, the most common property crime in the area, showed a general downward trend. In 2010, there were 366 incidents, which increased to 442 in 2012 but then decreased to 201 in 2019, a 45% reduction from 2010 levels. The rate per 1,000 residents similarly dropped from 8.24 in 2010 to 4.49 in 2019. The city's proportion of state larceny-thefts remained relatively stable, ranging from 0.22% to 0.26% between 2010 and 2018, before dropping to 0.14% in 2019. This trend indicates a significant improvement in preventing larceny-theft over the decade.
Motor vehicle theft in the city has shown some fluctuation but remained relatively low. From 21 incidents in 2010, it peaked at 31 in 2012, then decreased to 10 in 2014, before rising again to 28 in 2020. The rate per 1,000 residents ranged from 0.47 in 2010 to 0.22 in 2014, ending at 0.62 in 2020. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts varied from 0.07% to 0.17% over the period, indicating that while the numbers are low, they represent a growing proportion of state incidents.
Arson cases in the city have been relatively few but variable. From 3 incidents in 2010, it reached a high of 7 in 2015, before decreasing to 2 in 2020. The rate per 1,000 residents ranged from 0.07 in 2010 to 0.16 in 2015, ending at 0.04 in 2020. The city's proportion of state arsons fluctuated significantly, from 0.08% in 2014 and 2017 to 0.55% in 2015, settling at 0.16% in 2020. While arson remains infrequent, its variability suggests the need for continued vigilance.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a moderate inverse relationship between median income and property crime rates. As the median income increased from $94,350 in 2013 to $103,569 in 2022, overall property crime rates tended to decrease. Additionally, there's a slight correlation between changes in racial demographics and crime rates. As the white population percentage decreased from 66% in 2013 to 62% in 2022, and the Hispanic population increased from 11% to 14% over the same period, property crime rates generally declined, suggesting that demographic changes have not negatively impacted crime rates.
Applying predictive models based on historical trends, it's projected that by 2029 (five years from now), property crime rates in Woodridge may continue their overall downward trend. Burglaries could potentially decrease by another 15-20%, while larceny-theft might see a further reduction of 10-15%. Motor vehicle theft rates may stabilize or slightly increase, potentially by 5-10%, given their recent upward trend. Arson cases are expected to remain low but variable.
In summary, Woodridge has demonstrated a generally positive trend in property crime reduction over the past decade, particularly in larceny-theft and burglary. This improvement, coupled with population growth and rising median incomes, suggests effective crime prevention strategies and a strengthening community fabric. However, the variability in certain crime categories, particularly motor vehicle theft and arson, indicates areas for continued focus in law enforcement and community safety initiatives.
